By Allen Ramsey

The world governing body had denied Costa Rica's request to replay the qualifier against the USA due to poor weather conditions in the initial match.

FIFA has denied Costa Rica's request for a replay of the match the team lost to the USA on Friday in snowy conditions.

A Clint Dempsey goal gave the USA a 1-0 win, and after the match Costa Rica sent a letter to soccer's governing body asking for the match result to be disqualified because the pitch was unplayable. On Tuesday, with both Costa Rica and the USA set to be in action again later in the day, FIFA rejected the request and upheld the result.

"FIFA received a letter via email from the Costa Rica FA on 24 March 2013 with regards to the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier played on 22 March between USA and Costa Rica," a statement on FIFA's official website reads.

"FIFA has examined the content of the letter and, taking into consideration article 14, paragraph 4 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup regulations, has confirmed that the conditions established in the regulations for an official protest have not been met by the Costa Rica FA.

"Therefore, the result of the match played on 22 March stands and is considered as valid."

The result took the USA into second place in CONCACAF's final round of World Cup qualifying and left Costa Rica last in the group after two matches.